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showing a pistol?

ok ive looked for the last hour, and this is really bugging me.. i had my SR9 in my holster and i was beside my house on the street, he asked me to see it. i pulled it out of my holster while aiming at the ground. was fully loaded but none in the chamber. he said its brandishing a fire arm and is illegle. is that true? give me the low down if you could.. and i DO have my concealed pistol permit.

i was next to 2 cars working on 1 of them, and HE"" being one of the guys helping me asked to c it. i was NOT waiveing it around or shakeing it, pulled it out, put it back in. took maybe 20 seconds if that..

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.

(2) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (1) above shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor. If any person is convicted of a violation of subsection (1) of this section, the person shall lose his or her concealed pistol license, if any. The court shall send notice of the revocation to the department of licensing, and the city, town, or county which issued the license.

(3) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to or affect the following:

(a) Any act committed by a person while in his or her place of abode or fixed place of business;

(b) Any person who by virtue of his or her office or public employment is vested by law with a duty to preserve public safety, maintain public order, or to make arrests for offenses, while in the performance of such duty;

(c) Any person acting for the purpose of protecting himself or herself against the use of presently threatened unlawful force by another, or for the purpose of protecting another against the use of such unlawful force by a third person;

(d) Any person making or assisting in making a lawful arrest for the commission of a felony; or

(e) Any person engaged in military activities sponsored by the federal or state governments.

The fellow who asked to see the weapon then accused you of "brandishing" when you drew the firearm? "Brandishing" is not a term that is defined under the RCWs. See the above cite of .270, then find a different group of folks to hang out with, he is an idiot IMO. Myself I would not remove my lawfully carried self-defense firearm on a public street without a pressing need to defend myself or others, but I also do not consider doing so rising to the level of a violation of .270, without some other factors involved. Your opinion and mileage may vary.

Thanks for the info guys, i appreciate it! and its not going to happen again.. the reason i did show it was because i just bought it. fired for the first time today. anyways, thanks again guys/girls :-)

Thanks for the info guys, i appreciate it! and its not going to happen again.. the reason i did show it was because i just bought it. fired for the first time today. anyways, thanks again guys/girls :-)

I wasn't there, and I only have the details you've offered. That said, I would also suggest having a much better reason for drawing under those circumstances. In addition, are we to understand you were carrying a new firearm you've never even shot before?

As a general rule nobody handles my firearms but me. People can see it just fine from the holster.
And as Aktion mentioned it's is not a good idea to rely on a weapon that
A: Has not been proven
and
B: You may be unfamiliar with.
Not saying that is what you did but if it is well, there you go.

Last edited by decklin; 01-25-2012 at 08:04 PM.

"Loyalty above all else except honor. " -John Mahoney

"A Government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." -Gerald R. Ford

Sorry to ask a follow up questions but this goes along with a question I have had for a while. Last time I had a doctors appointment in Seattle I knew Vergina Mason has a no weapons s policy and because I would he getting X-rays I decided to leave my gun in my car. I took my gun still inside my holster off in my car but when I was getting ready to leave I stood just outside my car and put my gun (still in its holster) back on my belt. If my gun was still in the holster was it brandishing?

I am also curious on others opinion of fire suppressor's question. I always assuming it is "Unlawful carrying or handling" so I always do a double check to make sure it is unlike I am spotted when I need to remove/equip my holstered weapon.

I'm not a coward, I've just never been tested, I'd like to think that if I was I would pass,
Look at the tested and think "there but for the grace go on," I might be a coward... I'm afraid of what I might find out.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.

As Big Dave pointed out in another thread the totality of the facts make the case. Rearming after being in a no weapon zone, would in my opinion not be an act rising to the level of a .270 violation, the Police and District Attorney at the event will also factor in. Myself it seems a reasonable act, with a proximate reasonable cause. Wasn't there a case over in Yakima of a man arming up in a bank parking lot that basically boiled down to "it was a reasonable act"and not enough for a .270 conviction, unlike the jury trial of the fellow outside the pizza joint.

I wasn't there, and I only have the details you've offered. That said, I would also suggest having a much better reason for drawing under those circumstances. In addition, are we to understand you were carrying a new firearm you've never even shot before?

actually, i have fired glocks alot, never thought if getting a pistol. ruger was a GREAT choice for a first start. before the incident(about 2 hours before) i shot around 1K rounds through the chamber to get used to the pistol and the conditions they have. never once locked up on me. after about the 5th clip i got very accurate with it.

And for the other comment about other people seeing it, i live in a secluded neighborhood. he did not touch my fire arm, nor did i offer him to. just a visual.

Also, with the other question, i take my pistol off every day i get to work and lock the gun in the glove box (locked) and the clip in the center consul. but i have to get out of my car to do so.. its not brandishing the fire arm unless you waive it around (so far i know) and with the reply of the WRC(i think) rules, to pull a fire arm out in an aggressive behavior is illegal. i think an officer would understand if someone called and he found out the story. i think you will be ok. :-) but if anyone else has an opinion i would love to know!

we are starting to need a glossary , "brandishing" is not a recognized legal term, I try to use the applicable RCW as a reference to any discussion of legal/illegal to avoid confusion, the internet already takes away so many levels of the conversation.

actually, i have fired glocks alot, never thought if getting a pistol. ruger was a GREAT choice for a first start. before the incident(about 2 hours before) i shot around 1K rounds through the chamber to get used to the pistol and the conditions they have. never once locked up on me. after about the 5th clip i got very accurate with it.

And for the other comment about other people seeing it, i live in a secluded neighborhood. he did not touch my fire arm, nor did i offer him to. just a visual.

Also, with the other question, i take my pistol off every day i get to work and lock the gun in the glove box (locked) and the clip in the center consul. but i have to get out of my car to do so.. its not brandishing the fire arm unless you waive it around (so far i know) and with the reply of the WRC(i think) rules, to pull a fire arm out in an aggressive behavior is illegal. i think an officer would understand if someone called and he found out the story. i think you will be ok. :-) but if anyone else has an opinion i would love to know!

Obviously, as others have said, its the totality of the circumstances that must be taken into account in a court of law. Keeping that in mind, its NOT the totality of the circumstances that could get you arrested, charged and run through the court ringer.

I suggest, the very fact you are asking this question says you have a nag that what you did may have touched a precarious legal line that you are not totally comfortable with. Did the totality of YOUR circumstances border on a .270 charge? Given the facts as you stated them, I would agree with others and say, not likely, especially if the very person you were showing the firearm to was not threatened.

In total, I would say you took a small risk that really was not necessary in any way, as you could have easily stepped into your house or garage and done the exact same thing with total legal confidence. Next time I would suggest that you listen to that nagging voice in the back of your head just a little longer, its there for a reason.

Personally if someone asked me to see my firearm on the street a simple NO! From what I gather the person asking to see or handle the gun was just an acquaintance and it was his loaded carry gun when handed to him, all of this adds up to TROUBLE.

As to 9.41.270 (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.

To unholster to secure your firearm in your vehicle, lockbox or even at the court house would not fall into this category.

Being prepared is to prepare, this is our responsibility.

I am not your Mommy or Daddy and do not sugar coat it but I will tell you simply as how I see it, it is up to you on how you will or will not use it.

IANAL, all information I present is for your review, do your own homework.

my guns only come out of the holster to be cleaned, or go bang....never because someone (anyone) asked to look at them. If I go into the court house, (had jury duty last week) holster and all go in the lock box.

Question 1) Are you smart enough not to unholster your firearm unless you are going to use it?

If you voted for Obama to prove you are not a racist...
what will you do now to prove you are not stupid?

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of "liberalism," they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." - Norman Thomas

"They who can who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve niether liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin

actually, i have fired glocks alot, never thought if getting a pistol. ruger was a GREAT choice for a first start. before the incident(about 2 hours before) i shot around 1K rounds through the chamber to get used to the pistol and the conditions they have. never once locked up on me.

This is not directed at the OP but rather those who really need to learn reading comprehension. He said he shot 1K rounds 2 hours BEFORE the incident occured. Who knows, he could have been at the range for hours.

Last edited by G30Mike; 01-26-2012 at 05:39 AM.

"Ever notice once in a while you come across somebody you shouldn't have f***ed with......That's me." -Clint Eastwood "Gran Torino"

I associate with firearms enthusiasts as such on occasion some have wanted to see my sidearm out of it's holster. in such cases i usually take them to an area out of general view(indoors) on private property. if they just want to see it i do so by holding it in my hand, if they want to hold it i drop the magazine and clear it before i safety it and hand it to them. it's all about being responsible and smart.